The trick with Kramaric

Of course, the intervention in the Hoffenheim hierarchy had to be discussed with the incumbent. "I discussed that with Oliver Baumann," revealed Sebastian Hoeneß. The TSG coach did not want to leave anything in the end of the season and with a psychological trick of his crumming striker Andrej Kramaric back to the road to success. So Baumann left Die Binde Kramaric as the deputy of the injured Hoffenheim captain Benjamin Hübner against Freiburg. "The initiative went from me, it was about putting an impulse, stimulating something and releasing with Andrej in terms of responsibility and leadership," said Hoeneß, who was able to feel confirmed afterwards: "I saw this impulse. Andrej Has Has A goal made, prepared one and made a good home game. "

• Kramaric: "Could have scored more goals"
• Hoffenheim and the "smaller games"

Kramaric: "Could have scored more goals"

At least this calculation was open on Saturday against Freiburg, Kramaric delivered one of his best season games, after two and a half months of charging finally achieved his fifth goal of the season and also contributed to his tenth assist with the preparatory work for the meantime 2: 1 by Angelo Stiller. Not enough. And so the star of the Kraichgauer was disappointed and lowered in the Sinsheim arena after the 3: 4. "It really hurts, it hurts all the season. In some moments we played really horny football," Kramaric struggled after the seventh game in a row without a win, "and now we are eighth and almost have no chance that Europe To create League. We wanted to attack that from the start. "

The Croatian found plenty of reasons and, very leader, started with himself. "Of course I could have scored more goals this season, I had a lot of chances," says Kramaric, "unfortunately I didn't use her as well as last year." At the time, the vice world champion had set up a new personal best with 20 goals, with his 1-1 against SC he just reached a quarter in the current season.

Hoffenheim and the "smaller games"

The 30-year-old has identified the continued TSG personnel problems as another major cause. "Sometimes I was angry because there were always so many players missing, injured or because of Corona," said Kramaric, who was also also affected. Overall, just too many failures to play constant at a high level in the upper third of the table. "We have to be able to be better positioned in terms of personnel," Kramaric said for the coming season, "we couldn't play two games with the same list, which is certainly a reason why we are eighth and not fourth or fifth or Sixth. "

But more could and would have been able to achieve more with the workforce available. "We can play great football against Dortmund or Bayern Munich, but we also have to show that in the smaller games against Fürth or Bochum," criticizes Kramaric, who had extended his expiring contract in March until 2025. At that time, the TSG had just had a series of four wins behind it and as fourth in the table on the fourth European Cup participation. It is now as good as playful at five points behind in seventh place and only six points to be awarded. "The order is clear," says Hoeneß, "we have to do our job now and get six points if possible, otherwise we have no chance." Best with Kramaric as a captain.